Pan, the hostess of Cafe MIO, took the two men along a corridor and down into the main area of the bar.
She looked around at the girls waiting on the plush couches. Three or four of her regulars were here already.
The air smelled of quality spice from the burners, and the music was provided by the song birds fluttering and trilling in their delicate, suspended cages. Cafe MIO was several streets removed from the common drinking dens and rowdy clubs where men lost their pay. It was demure and exclusive, catering for the well-moneyed.
Three games were in progress around the broad, lacquer-work tables arranged around the couches. Attentive girls in short dresses drifted about with trays of drinks.
Pan frowned as she took them to the bar. Pretty much everyone she saw through the door was in trouble, even that trouble was just an over-fondness for drink, or cards. She always felt sorry for the punters who came along with desperate dreams of turning a little into a lot. It never happened.
She always felt sorry for the men, like two nice-looking men before her, who seemed honest and good hearted, but who were about to ruin their good characters forever. Pan left them seated in plush seats against the wall, and went away through a curtain into the private rooms.
The new girl Sara was watching the bar area on a monitor. She seemed in a particularly good mood.
“What’s up with this one, Pan?” Sara asked, gesturing at the screen image of Nox. “He’s got a face (and a fidget) I quite like. Can I keep these two company?”
“Oh, he’s a proper gentleman, and as charming with the ladies as any. You can take him for practice. I’m sure you’ll enjoy that.”
“I’ll take this one,” the girl said, nodding. She was good looking, with the dark hair and pale skin of the Russians. She’d only been with them two nights, on probation still, and she hadn’t hosted a customer yet.
Pan shrugged her delicate, lace covered shoulders. She wanted to send somebody with a bit more experience, but this seemed too good a chance for a new girl to miss out on. No, let’s give Sara a chance.
“Off you go, then.”
The new girl got up. She smiled, checked her reflection in the mirror, straightened her red silk dress, and headed for the exit.
“Just remember.” Pan called after Sara. The new girl stopped and looked back.
“Try not to screw it up, Sara."
The new girl smiled. “I’ll try my best.”
“We should get a drink,” Sara said.
The men looked up.
“Or are you here to play?” she asked, sitting down in the plush seat next to Nox, and draping the skirts of her red silk dress over her legs elegantly.
Sara